Machine for recording textile constructions or designs



G. BELL 2,079,674

MACHINE FOR RECORDING TEXTILE CONSTRUCTIONS OR DESIGNS May 11, 1937.

Filed Dec. 21, 1935 '7 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR @ziw ATTORNEYS.

May 11, 1937. G. BELL 2,079,674

MACHINE FOR RECORDING TEXTILE CONSTRUCTIONS OR DESIGNS Filed Dec. 21, 1953 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 gVENTOR B May 11, 1937. 2,079,674 MACHINE FOR RECORDING TEXTILE CIONSTVRUCTIONS on DESIGNS BELL '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filepl Dec. 2;, 1955 1277 jjj/fi.

2 IEVENTORM III II III. I III-1 II I] III 75 I H IIIII II II II BY W ATTOR N EYS 1 May 11, 1937. G. BELL 2,079,674

MACHINE FOR RECORDING TEXTILE CONSTRUCTIONS OR DESIGNS Filed Dec. 21, 1935 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 [/4 |NVENTOR M W BY ATTORNEYS G. BELL May 11, 1937.

MACHINE FOR RECORDING TEXTILE CONSTRUCTIONS OR DESIGNS Filed Dec. 21, 1955 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN NTOR BY '/&

ATTORNEYS May 11, 1937. 'BELL 2,079,674

MACHINE FOR RECORDING TEXTILE CONSTRUCTIONS OR DESIGNS' Filed Dec. 21, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR BY ATTORNEYS G. BELL MACHINE FOR RECORDING TEXTILE CONSTRUCTIONS OR DESIGNS May 11, 1937.

Filed Dec. 21. 1933 v 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR @1/ Patented May 11, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR RECORDING TEXTILE CON- STRUCTIONS R DESIGNS 6 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for recording the construction or design of woven fabrics. Such designs or constructions are recorded on cross-ruled paper by filling in certain .5 squares with color, usually black. The squares or quadrates are treated successively in horizontal rows, each row representing one course or throw of the filling across the fabric. The purpose of the record or design is to designate spe- 10 cifically those warp ends over and under which the filling threads pass. The fact that a rectangle or quadrate is uncolored or blank denotes that the filling has passed under the warp end or ends, as may be indicated by a succession of 15 uncolored spaces.

Original designs of construction and copies of designs are recorded manually in the same fashion, on cross-ruled paper. Frequently, the construction of a woven fabric must be deter- 20 mined and recorded, the analysis being made 525 plement are essential to accuracy. Two workers are usually required to perform the above operations, the first or analyst to dissect the weave and announce his determinations or findings and the second to record manually upon cross-ruled paper 30 the determination announced.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an instrumentality whereby one person,

alone, may readily analyze cloth construction and record the results of that analysis with greater accuracy and speed than is possible for two persons to so do.

Other objects are to obviate the necessity of using cross-ruled paper and yet produce the'crossruled effect; to provide in the apparatus two con 40 ventional sizes of printing characters and selective feeds therefor, so that different size characters may be printed according to the requirements; and to provide a feeding device that will feed the paper either upwardly or downwardly so 45 that the design record may be started either at the top or bottom of the sheet with equal success.

Further objects of the improvement are set forth in the following specification which describes several preferred embodiments of the in- 0 vention, by way of example, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. l is a general view of the improved recording apparatus shown as mounted upon a table and illustrating its connection with the pedal for controlling the printing operation;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus with the rearward end of the casing partly broken away to illustrate the interior parts;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same, shown partly in section on line 33 of Fig. 2; 5 Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view through the apparatus taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are detail views of different forms of typing or recording characters employed in the apparatus;

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 show portions of the records produced with the characters illustrated in Figs.

5, 6 and 7, respectively;

Fig. 11 is a diagram showing the electrical connections of the apparatus;

Fig. 12 is a composite perspective view of the several parts of the escapement-mechanism;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged partial rear elevation of the recording apparatus;

Fig. 14 is a plan view of the paper-feeding mechanism;

Fig. 15 is a front elevation of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a plan view of a pedal for controlling the operation of the printing mechanism; Fig. 17 is an elevation of the same; Fig. 18 is a detail of the spring-tension control for the pedal;

Fig.'19 is a plan view of a hand-operated controlling means for the apparatus; Fig. 20 is an end elevation of an alternative form of controlling means in which the printing characters are mechanically operated;

Fig. 21 is a portion of a printed diagram obtained with the use of the form of device shown in Fig. 20 and illustrating the method of interpreting the record;

Fig. 22 shows a modified form of construction of the apparatus in which only one printing member is employed and actuated by raising and lowering the slide carrying the member; and

Fig. 23 is a detail view of the printing or recording member employed in the form of construction shown in Fig. 22.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 18, inclusive, which show a preferred construction of the apparatus, the paper or other material on which the weave construction is recorded is preferably supplied in a roll 2. The roll 2 is supported on a carriage 3 slidably mounted in a casing l0 and propelled in one direction by a motor 4 through means of a band 8 connecting said motor and carriage. The motor 4 may be of a spring type or any other suitable propelling device may be employed. The

web 5 of the roll which constitutes the blank '55 for receiving the printed record is passed under a printing roll or platen 6 to which it is held by a usual type of pressure rollers 1 so that rotation of the platen 6 feeds the web 5.

As detailed in the preamble, the conventional cloth construction design is a mat of closely annexed rectangular areas or quadrates, some solidly colored and some blank. The conventional and accepted sizes of quadrates to which design paper is ruled are one-eighth and one-sixteenth inches square. The present device is adapted to print either size of squares and consequently the ratchet-wheels 91 and 98 which feed the platen 6 have their teeth so spaced relative to the circumference of said platen as to feed the paper one-sixteenth inch per tooth or one-eighth inch for every two teeth of feed. Likewise, the escapement-mechanism which releases the carriage 3 to the action of the motor 4 isso con-- trived as to feed the carriage 3 either one-sixteenth or one-eighth inch as required. The ratchetand escapement-mechanisms will be described in detail later.

The casing III of the apparatus carries a crossgirt I I upon which are mounted the ribbon spools '12 and I3 and two recording members, namely, an imprint-member If; and a space-member I5. The ribbon-feeding mechanism may be of any known type and is, therefore, not herein shown in detail. The members It and I5 are mounted on a vertical plate or slide I6 which is slidable in guideway I1 of the girt I I. The movement of the slide it is also controlled by a guide-pin I8 which is set in a step I9 at the bottom of a pendant portion 26 of the cross-girt II. A spring ZI acting upon a collar 22 on the top of said pin presses upon a step 23 of the slide I6 to normally hold it down against the step I9 at the bottom station of its up and down movement, the step 23 being movable on and guided by the pin I8. A key-lever 24 is connected with the slide I6 by a pin 25 held in lugs 26 of the slide I6. The key-lever 2 3 is mounted on a fulcrum-sin 21 projecting from a stand 23 riveted to the bottom of the casing II]. The key-lever 24 projects outwardly through an opening in the front of the casing II) and terminates in a finger-piece or key 3I which may be depressed to raise the slide I t to its upper station,.a detent-lever 32 serving to releasably lock the key-lever 24 in this position.

As shown in Fig. 5 each of the two recording members I4 and I5 has mounted at its extremity or head two stamps, all four stamps being identical in outer form. The upper stamps 33 and 34 are one-eighth inch square and the lower stamps 35 and 36 are one-sixteenth inch square. The stamps 33 and 35 of the recording member I4 constitute the pattern characters and are provided with substantially fiat faces to effect a rectangular imprint of solid color. In the case of an area as large as one-eighth inch square a solid face sometimes causes the ink to spread so that the imprint is not maintained in rectangular form but tends to bulge between the corners and it is found desirable to relieve the pressure by very slightly. concaving the face or by otherwise treating it.

The stamps 36 and 36 of the recording member I5 are formed as rectangular outlines or delineations which denote space or absence of any pattern character, hence, the designation of the member I5 as a space member. As explained above, cloth construction design is preponderantly a one character design. The distribution of quadrates of solid color through a mat or area forming the design denote by their relation to characterless or space rectangles the relation of warp and filling in the cloth. As the imprints of the stamps 34 and 36 simply serve to set 01f open or blank spaces they are preferably of boxlike outline so that the resultant pattern recorded by the apparatus is a composite of filled and open rectangles as shown in Fig. 8. The resultant graph is identical with that previously produced on cross-ruled paper. The pattern character substantially fills its area when imprinted but may be slightly smaller than said area.

Through this provision when a group of the full face quadrates have been printed the individual characters are separated one from another by white spaces, and in the same manner the blank quadrates are bounded by black lines, see Fig. 8. The individual imprints or characters are thus distinguishable and readily counted. Inasmuch as cloth construction is analyzed pick by pick and each horizontal line of rectangles in the pattern represents one pick, spacing members I5 of the types shown in Figs. 6 and 7 may be employed. With the use of the member I 5 shown in Fig. 6 the spaces between the printed squares will be defined or bounded by two vertical lines and with the form of member illustrated in Fig. '7 they will be bounded by vertical and horizontal lines.

The recording members It and I5 are fulcrumed on pins 31 and 38 carried in lugs 39 and 40 of the slide I8 and are swung on these pins to impel the characterand space-denoting stamps to cause them to strike the web 5 of the roll 2. The ink-ribbon 4i carried by the spools I2 and I3 passes through a usual form of ribhon-guide 9 between the web 5 and the imprinting characters or stamps. When the stamps strike against the ribbon and web the forms of the stamps are impressed upon the web.

The recording members I4 and I5 are operated by two magnets 42 and 43 preferably of the solenoid type which are mounted on the bottom of the casing It Themagnets are connected by a circuit wire I11, shown in Fig. 11, with the secondary winding I12 of a transformer I13 mounted in a box-like casing I14 attached to the rearward side of the main cas- I ing III. The other secondary circuit wire I15 of the transformer is grounded in the casing I14 at I16, see Figs. 2 and 11. The primary side I11 of the transformer is connected through means of a suitable fitting and conductor 41 with any available lampor wall-socket indicated at 46 in Fig. 1. The plunger of each solenoid is connected with its recording member M or I5, as the case may be, by means of a coiled spring-link 48. Inasmuch as the arrangement and action of both solenoids and of the recording members operated by them are identical the description will be herein confined to one set. One end of the link 48 is hooked around a pin 50 carried by the solenoid plunger 49, while its opposite end is hooked through a hole in a lug 5i of the recording member I5. When the circuit is closed and the solenoid is energized, the recording member is impelled or projected against the ribbon M and the character of the recording member is imprinted on the record blank or web 5. The spring form of the link 48 is employed for two reasons, first, through its use an elastic blow of the recording member is effected and second, in the event of employing alternating current the spring structure permits close sealing between the plug and the plunger of the solenoid to effect a positive solenoid action.

The feeding of the carriage 3 is effected and regulated by a duplex escapement shown in Figs. 4 and 12. Mounted on the bottom or" the carriage 3 is a feed-rack 53 and adapted to alternatively engage therewith are two gears 54 and 55. The teeth of the rack and gears 54 and 55 have the same circumferential pitch, for example one-eighth inch. The gear 54 meshes with a gear 56 free on a spindle 5'! and arranged adjacent the escapement-wheel 58 to be driven thereby through means of a pawl 55. The pawl 59 is pivotally mounted on a stud 44 fast in the side of the escapement-wheel 58 and held in yielding engagement with the teeth of the gear 56 by a spring 6|]. The spring 55 is held in the slotted end of a stud SI also mounted on the escapement-wheel 58. Secured to the gear 55 is a gear 62 which is twice the diameter of the gear 56 and having twice the number of teeth. In the arrangement described the gears 54, 5 and 56, together with the escapement-wheel 55, all have eight teeth while the gear 52 has sixteen teeth. When the gear 55 is in mesh with the rack 53, the latter will move one-eighth inch with the release of each tooth of the escapement-wheel 58. When, on the other hand, the gear 55 is enmeshed with the rack 53 the latter will be moved only one-sixteenth of an inch with the release of each tooth of the escapement-wheel. The gear 54 is mounted on a stud at one extremity of a rocker-arm 64, while the conjoined gears 55 and 52 are mounted on a similar stud 65 at the opposite extremity of the rocker-arm. The arm 54 has a hub 5'! which rocks in a bearing 68 of a bracket 59 fastened to the casing I0, see Fig. 4. The hub carries at its outer end an arm ID, in which is mounted a spring-actuated locking pin H by means of which the rocker 54 is held in either of two holes I2 to cause one or the other of the gears 54 and 55 to mesh with the rack 53. Fig. 13 shows the rocker 54 swung into position to cause the pin II to enter the top hole I2 in the bracket 69 to maintain the gear 54 in mesh with the rack 53. the gear 55 with the rack the pin II is removed and entered into the lower hole 12. The spindle 51, previously mentioned, is journaled in the hub 51 of the arm 64 and held against axial movement therein by a collar I3.

The escapement-mechanism is of a usual form comprising a rockable frame It having a fixed detent I5 and carrying a movable detent I5 which engages the tooth of the escapementwheel next behind that held by the fixed detent. The frame 14 is carried on a pin Ii extending through a boss 18 at the bottom of the bracket 69. Pivoted on the pin H are two arms BI and 82, each carrying a headed pin 83. Connecting the pin 83 with the pin of the solenoid plung- .er 49 is a wire link 84. On the sides of the arms I and 82 are projections 85 which overhang the escapement-frarne. I4 and passing through threaded holes in the projections are screws 85 having checknuts 81. The ends of the screws are adapted to bear against the escapementframe I4 to rock the latter when the solenoids M or 43 are energized to draw the arms 8! or 32 forwardly. The screws 86 may be readily adjusted to provide for a close setting or adjust- .ment of the escapement-mechanism.

It is frequently necessary to record cloth designs. tartin tra t o t m nd workin up.-

To change the setting to enmesh wardly along the web 5. This necessitates the provision of means for feeding the record blank either upwardly or downwardly as the printing proceeds. For this purpose the present inven tion makes use of the ratchet-roll feed-mechanism shown in detail in Figs. 3, 14 and 15. Attached to the left-hand end of the carriage 3 is a bracket 88 having a vertical bearing 39. Within this bearing 89 is rotatably mounted a spindle 95 carrying at its lower end a spiral gear 9| which meshes with a spiral gear 92 secured to the shaft or spindle 93 upon which the roll 6 is mounted. Secured to the vertical spindle 90 and abutting the top of the bearing 89 is a check ratchetwheel 54. A check-pawl or dog 95 constructed from spring metal is attached to the bracket 88 by screws 96 and engages the teeth of the check ratchet-wheel 94 to prevent retrogressive movement thereof. The notches in the check ratchetwheel correspond to the smallest quadrate to be printed, in the present case one-sixteenth of an inch.

Above the check ratchet-wheel 94 the spindle 95 carries two feed ratchet-wheels 91 and 98 having oppositely cut teeth. Formed in the bracket 85 are opposite guideways 99 and ID!) in which is mounted a movable slide IUI, the guideways and the slide being at substantially the same level as the feed ratchet-wheels 97 and 3B. Pivotally mounted on the slide IIlI are two feed-pawls I92 and I I13 for actuating the ratchetwheels 91 and 88, respectively. A coil spring 34 attached to both pawls serves to engage their pointed ends with the respective wheels. A disk I95 interposed between the two ratchet-wheels 97 and 98 serves to prevent either pawl from encountering the wrong ratchet-wheel. The pawls I52 and. I03 are provided with arms I01 and Hi] having cam-faces I08 and III. Pivoted on a stud II! on the slide I BI is a rockable dog H5. The outer end of the dog H6 is bent upwardly to form a detent H8 which also serves as a handle for rocking or shifting the position of the dog. The detent portion H8 is formed to encounter the cam-formation I08 of the arm it! of the pawl I02 and force the latter out of engagement with its ratchet-wheel 91 in the manner as illustrated in Fig. 14, thereby leaving the feed-pawl I03 free to engage the feed ratchetwheel 98. In other instances the dog may be rocked to encounter the cam-face I I I to withhold the pawl I93 from engagement with the ratchetwheel 98 whereby to leave the pawl "32 free to engage with and operate the ratchet-wheel 97. The dog H6 may be swung to a neutral position to engage both arms I01 and H5 to force both pawls out of engagement with their respective ratchet-wheels. With the last described ad- 'justment the vertical spindle 96 is free to be rotated in either direction to cause the roll or platen 6 to be similarly rotated. For the purpose of facilitating the turning of the spindle 90 a knob lfiii is secured to the top of the spindle.

Movement of the slide IilI to index the roll or platen 6 is accomplished by means of a lever 2| pivotally mounted on a stud I22 secured in a projection I23 of the bracket 88. A spring I24 coiled about the stud I22 with its ends engaging the lever I2! and projection I 23 maintains the slide ID! in normal position with the lever I 2I bearing against a portion I26 of the bracket 88. The lever I2! is connected with the slide IUI by means of a stud I27 which also carries a stopdog I28. The dog I28 determines the extent of movement of the slide IIlI and therefore the extent of rotational feed of the roll or platen 5. The portion I26 of the bracket 88 is formed with opposite shoulders E29 and I35, against which the end of the stop-dog strikes to limit the movement of the slide IGI. As shown in Fig. 14 the shoulder IBI is arranged nearest the end of the dog I28 when the latter is in its inoperative position. Through this provision the extent of rotative movement of the ratchet-wheels 9i and 93 as effected by the pawls may be adjusted to obtain either a one-sixteenth or one-eighth inch feed. The extremity of the slide I5! is upturned to form an abutment I32 for holding the stop-dog I28 to either feed adjustment. The stop-dog I28 is normally held downward by a coil spring I33 surrounding the stud I21 but is yieldable to permit the stop-dog arm I3 1 to be manually raised and moved beyond either side of the abutment 632, see Fig. 14. The end of the stop-dog arm H4 is extended in a handle I 35 for facilitating the angular adjustment thereof.

The driven gear 92 on the roll spindle 93 is larger than the gear 9! on the vertical spindle 95 to cause a reduction in the rate of movement thereof. A tooth space as small as one-sixteenth inch is not practical for ratchets of the type herein shown and wear and back lash will cause improper functioning when fine graduations are used. Through the gear reduction above outlined it is possible to construct the ratchet-wheels with relatively large teeth.

The carriage 3 having been fed through its prescribed extent of movement by the motor 4 is returned to start a new row of imprints by pushing the handle-lever MI in the direction indicated by the arrow X in Fig. 14. If the feed-pawl I 52 is operative, the blank 5 will be fed upwardly; and if the pawl I03 is operative, the blank will be fed downwardly. When the stop-dog I 28 is arranged to encounter the shoulder ISI the blank 5 will be fed one-sixteenth of an inch. If, on the other hand, the stop-dog I28 is arranged to encounter the stop-shoulder I29 the blank will be fed oneeighth of an inch. Through this selective feeding means the pattern may be printed with one-sixteenth or one-eighth inch quadrates.

Projecting forwardly from the escapementframe it is an arm E35, see Fig. 4, which enters the bottom of the ribbon-guide 9 and serves to raise said guide to interpose the ribbon A l between the recording member id or l5 and the record blank 5 to transfer the imprint of the stamp of the recording member to the blank. The ribbonguide is of usual form having inwardly turned ears l3? that embrace the edges of a standard I38 forming a part of the vertical slide I6. The slide I6 carries at its upper end a guide I39 for directing the head or imprinting portion of each recording member to the web 5 being printed. The lower portion of the ribbon-guide 9 with which the arm I35 engages extends downward in a guideway I formed in the girt II behind the slide I6.

Mounted on one side of the casing I0 and suitably insulated therefrom is a frame I42, see Fig. 2, which carries a socket for receiving a signal-lamp MI. The socket is provided with an insulated plug I 33 through which a spring-pressed pin IM projects into the interior of the socket to contact with the lamp-base when the latter is screwed into the socket. The spring M5 for urging the pin I4 3 inwardly is connected by a wire l il with the circuit wire Ill. Another spring I58 attached to the lamp-socket frame I52 extends into the path of a pin 2 15 of the plunger 49 of the solenoid 52. As has been described, one side of the transformer secondary is grounded in the casing I'M at 575. Hence, when the solenoid 42 is energized and retracts its plunger against the action of acoil spring I50, the pin 240 encounters the spring I 48, grounding the lamp circuit, and the lamp MI lights. As the solenoid 42 operates the recording member I4 carrying the pattern character the operator is immediately informed whether or not the correct circuit has been closed and the pattern character properly imprinted.

The circuit may be closed either by a pedal control when a sample of fabric is being analyzed, or by a finger-operated controlling means when original designs are to be copied. The finger and pedal controls are somewhat similar in arrangement but the pedal control will be herein described more in detail as it is the more important of the two.

Referring to Figs. 16 and 17, the pedal control comprises a pedal I5I pivotally mounted on a pin I53 in a yoke I52 rising from a base I5? resting upon the floor. A spring I 54 coiled about the pin I53 acts to maintain the toe of the pedal I5I elevated. The yoke I52 has a vertical spindle or trunnion I55 which turns in a bearing I56 of the base I5? whereby to permit the pedal to be swung horizontally. Lugs I58 on the base I57 serve to limit the horizontal swinging of the pedal. Mounted on the base beneath the pedal are two push-button switches I59 and I60. Attached to a wall 55E at the end of the base I5! is a threeway connection I52 for receiving the plug 1'53 in which the three conductors I54, I and I66 of a. cable It? terminate. terminal i538 and two round terminals I59 and Ill], see Fig. 11, which insures that the push-buttons I59 and I 55 will be connected with the proper solenoids t2 and 43.

The electrical connections above outlined are clearly shown in the diagram of Fig. 11. The circuit wire I?! connects the secondary winding I12 of the transformer I73 with the leads I18 and H9 of the solenoids 42 and 43. The opposite lead I of the solenoid 43 is connected through means not herein detailed with the conductor I64 of the cable lS'l; the conductor I643 terminating in the round terminal i69 of the three-way plug I63. The terminal I69 is connected through a contactspring I8! of the three-way connector I52 and wire I32 with the contact-spring i833 of the pushbutton I59. The plate I8 l of the push-button switch I59 is connected by a wire I with the contact-spring I85 of the three-way connection I52. The fiat terminal l58 of the plug I53 contacts with the spring E85 and is attached to the wire 55 of the cable I61. The cable I6? is connected with the circuit wiring within the casing I ll by means of a three-way fitting I87. The plate I88 of this fitting which receives the terminal of the conductor lfiti is grounded in the casing II] at I85 by any usual means.

The solenoid 42 is connected with the push-button switch I50 in a like manner. The lead I90 of the solenoid is connected to the cable conductor E55 which terminates-in the round terminal I'it of the plug I53. The contact-spring I9I of the three-way connection I52 which engages the terminal H5 is connected by a wire I92 with the contact-spring I93 of the push-button switch I50. The contact-plate I95 of the push-button switch IE5 is connected with the contact-spring I86 of the three-way fitting I62 by a wire I95. The wires I85, I95 and IE6, together with the intervening connections constitute the return circuit The plug I63 has one fiat aovaeva of the system. When the operator swings the pedal I5I to the right and presses downwardly the projection I96 on the under side thereof depresses the push-button of the switch I60 and brings the spring I93 into contact with the plate I94. The closing of the circuit energizes the solenoid 42, causing the recording member I4 to be actuated, the light I4I to be lighted, and the carriage 3 tobe shifted to receive the next imprint. By swinging the pedal to the left the projection I96 is brought over the push-button I59. Downward pressure upon the button closes the circuit for the solenoid 43 to energize the latter and cause it to operate the space-member I5 to record a blank and feed the carriage 3 to present another surface for receiving the next printing character.

A stop-ledge or projection I91 formed on the base I51 limits the downward movement of the pedal I5I so that undue pressure will not be brought to bear upon the push-buttons. Under the heel I98 of the pedal is an adjustable stop I99 for limiting the upward movement of the pedal under the action of the spring I54. Means are herein provided for varying the resistance of the spring I54 to suit the operator. Referring to Fig. 18, the pivot-pin I53 has a polygonal head 200 which fits a socket of corresponding form in one side or arm 20I of the yoke I52. The circular shank 202 of the pin I53 passes through circular holes in lugs 203 on the under side of the pedal and through the opposite arm 204 of the yoke. Fast on the pin I53 between the lugs 203 of the pedal is a collar 205 having a hole in its side for receiving one end of the spring I54. The spring I54 is coiled about the shank 202 of the pin I53 with its opposite end pro jecting outwardly to bear against the under side of the pedal. In addition to acting with torsional effect to raise the pedal, the coils of the spring also exert pressure against the collar 205 to normally hold the polygonal head 200 of the pin in the socket. The projecting end of the pin I53 is squared to receive a key or wrench and by pressing axially against the pin I53 it may then be turned to increase or to diminish the torsional effect of the spring I54 to vary the pressure required to operate the pedal. The thrust of the spring I54 against the collar 205 forces the polygonal head 200 into the socket when pressure on the squared end of the pin I53 is relieved.

The finger control, shown in detail in Fig. 19, consists of two contact-arms 206 and 201 constructed from spring metal and provided with finger-pieces or keys 208 and 209 at their extremities. The contact-arms are mounted on an insulation block 2I0 with the arm 206 connected electrically with the conductor I65 of the cable I61 and the arm 201 joined to the cable conductor I64. The return conductor I66 of the cable I61 is connected to a contact-plate 2| I extending beneath both keys and mounted on a strip of insulation 2I2. When the arm 206 is lowered it contacts with the plate 2H and causes operation of the imprint-member I4 and illumination of the lamp MI; and similarly, when the arm 201 contacts with the plate 2 I I the space-member I5 is operated in the manner as previously explained.

Modifications in the construction and arrangement of the parts of the apparatus are possible which would fall within the scope of the present invention. For example, a purely mechanical recording apparatus and control could be used, as shown in Fig. 20, wherein a single recording member 2l3 is operated by a manual key-lever 2I4 through link connections 2I5; the key-lever also serving as a means for operating the escapement-mechanism indicated at 2I1. A second key-lever 2I6 operates the escapement 2I1 only. The key-levers 2I4 and 2 i6 may also be operated by pedals with equal efficiency. From each keylever depends a wire rod 2I0. Arranged below the printing device are two pedals 220 and 22I provided at their rearward ends with holes'or eyes 222 through which the rods 2I8pass. Coilv springs 2I9 fastened to the rods and the frame ofthe device tend to maintain the pedals ele-: vated. Fastened to'each rodbelow the eye 222 of each pedal is a collar 223 against which the. pedal is pressed to effect lowering of the respective key-levers. Pressure upon the pedal 220 actuates the key-lever 2I4 to cause it to imprint the pattern character and also operates the escapement 2I1 to feed the carriage. Pressure upon the pedal 22I operatesthe key-lever 2I6. to feed the carriage without causing any .imprinting action. Due to the fact that no space character is employed with this form of construction the resultant printed cloth design will be composed of colored squares having variablysized spaces therebetween. To interpret the design a scale having graduations equal to the size of the squares is applied thereto as indicated in Fig. 21, and the overs and unders may then be readily deduced.

Inasmuch as cloth designs or constructionrecords are. often made with but one size ofindex or pattern character, it is possible to obtain the necessary records with only one magnet connected to operate the recording member and escapement-m'echanism. Referring now to Fig.23,

the imprinting portion or head 225 of the recording member 226 carries an index or printing character 221, consisting of a solid printing square, at or near its top and an open or outline square 228 therebelow. The recording member 226 is mounted on the slide 229, shown in Fig. 22. When the slide 229 is at its bottom station the member 226 prints the character 221 upon the blank 230 supported by the roll 23I. Action of the member 226 is derived from a solenoid 232 through means of a spring-link 233. A second solenoid 234 is connected with the slide 229 by means of a bell-crank lever 235 whereby when the solenoid 234 is energized it acts to raise the slide. The solenoid 232 is connected with both the member 226 and the escapement-mechanism 236 so that each actuation of the member 226 is accompanied by escapement action and feed of the carriage supporting the roll 23I. When the slide 229 is at its bottom station actuation of the member 226 by the solenoid 232 causes imprint of the pattern-character 221 and concurrent feeding of the carriage. On the other hand, raising of the slide 229 under the action of the solenoid 234 causes the member 226 to be simultaneously lifted so that the space designation is printed upon the blank 230. With an apparatus constructed in accordance with the last described form for imprinting characters of but one size provision would not be required for variable feed in either the roll 23I or the carriage upon which the roll is mounted.

It will be observed from the foregoing that the present invention provides a particularly simple yet efiicient apparatus for mechanically recording cloth or fabric designs. The apparatus operates with great precision in recording the character of the design upon the paper. With the use of the present apparatus it is possible for one person to analyze and record the construction of the fabric more accurately and expeditiously without necessitating constant observing of the pattern being printed. The apparatus is readily adjusted to adapt it for printing patterns employing different sizes of squares or quadrates. The use of cross-ruled paper is not essential for recording designs since the printing characters employed in the apparatus clearly define the pattern without the use of guide lines. The present invention thus provides an apparatus which is positive in action and durable in use besides being capable of rapid operation with a minimum of attention on the part of the operator.

While I have herein shown and described several preferred forms of construction of the device, by way of example, it is to be understood that other changes might be made in the structure and arrangement of its parts which would fall within the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. An apparatus for recording cloth construction in which the record consists of a representation in aligned sequence of the over and under pick relation of the weft to the warp threads of a fabric comprising mechanically-operative recording means having separate characters indicating each of said pick relations, and means for operating said characters to form the record.

2. An apparatus for recording cloth construction in which the record consists of a representation in aligned sequence of the over and under pick relation of the weft to the warp threads of a fabric comprising recording means having separate characters indicating each of said pick relations, electromagnetic means for operating said characters to form the record, and circuit-breakers for selectively controlling the electromagnetic operating means.

3. An apparatus for recording cloth construction in which the record consists of a representation in aligned sequence of the over and under pick relation of the Weft to the warp threads of a fabric comprising mechanically-operative recording means having separate characters indi cating each of said pick relations, and pedallyoperated means for selectively operating the separate characters to form the record.

4. An apparatus for recording cloth construction in which the record consists of a representation in aligned sequence of the over and under pick relation of the weft to the warp threads of a fabric comprising recording means having separate characters indicating each of said pick relations, electromagnetic means for operating said separate characters of the recording means, and pedally-operated circuit-breakers for controlling the electromagnetic means to selectively operate the separate characters to form the record.

5. An apparatus for recording cloth construction in which the record consists of a representation in aligned sequence of the over and under pick relation of the weft to the warp .threads of a fabric comprising mechanically-operative recording means having separate characters indi cating each of said pick relations, one of said characters being adapted to imprint a colored quadrate and the other of said characters adapted to imprint a quadrate outline, and means for operating said characters to form the record.

6. The method of recording cloth construction on a record blank by marking adjacent aligned quadrates to indicate the over and under pick relation of the weft to the Warp threads in a fabric which comprises feeding a record blank to present quadrated areas at an imprinting station in aligned sequence, mechanically imprinting a character in certain of the quadrated areas at the imprinting station to indicate an over or under pick relation, and selectively controlling the feeding of the record blank and the imprinting of the character with the feet to permit the fabric to be examined in the hands.

GILBERT BELL. 

